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“Honorary Board Member” (or “Rong Dong”) is an honorific title that originated in 1986, when Master Cheng Yen established the “Tzu Chi Honorary Board Member Certificate” to express gratitude to benefactors who donated one million New Taiwan dollars to support the construction of the Tzu Chi Hospital. The qualification for becoming an “Honorary Board Member” is based on the donation amount, not on special status or standing. Whether they are entrepreneurs or ordinary citizens, they are all a steadfast source of support for Tzu Chi.
The act of “serving tea” is not just a ceremony; it is a way of conveying gratitude and blessings, symbolizing the most sincere appreciation for the Honorary Board Members. On September 14, 2025, Tzu Chi Canada held a “Tea Gathering for Honorary Board Members,” inviting over eighty Honorary Board Members, their families, community members, and volunteers to share a wonderful afternoon together.
Cherishing Affinities to Cultivate Blessings and Wisdom
Before the tea party began, Tzu Chi volunteer Lin Hong-Ming performed a violin piece, conveying warmth through his music. The event’s emcee, Lin Chun-Yen, welcomed the warm energy everyone brought: “Every Bodhisattva and benefactor here, your heartfelt dedication to become an Honorary Board Member is the most beautiful testament to ‘a single moment of pure thought.'”
Tzu Chi Canada is a spiritual cultivation ground for everyone. Master Cheng Yen encouraged the attendees, saying, “Our spiritual wisdom will fade if left unused. We must protect the world and cherish all living things with a kind heart. Life is as brief as a fleeting visit; to walk the Bodhisattva Path in this world is a great blessing. Tzu Chi Bodhisattvas cultivate their spiritual wisdom through action. By ‘doing more to gain more,’ we do not let any affinity pass in vain, ensuring that Tzu Chi’s mission continues endlessly.”
Zhang Li-Hui, both a volunteer and a Canadian Honorary Board Member, shared, “I helped my husband fulfill his wish to become an Honorary Board Member. Then, he helped our entire family—myself and our three sons—each become one. Trading one membership for four is probably the best investment I’ve ever made as a housewife. I am so grateful to my husband.” Applause filled every corner of the venue.
Honorary Board Member Guo Shun-Lian also said, “The ‘Tzu Chi Great Love Farm’ is not just a place where we grow produce; it’s our community garden. In spring and summer, it attracts many residents who stop to enjoy its beauty, sharing in the charm of our community. The fruits and vegetables harvested in summer and fall are donated to food banks or charitable organizations. Tzu Chi’s deep roots in the community through its charitable footprint have touched many people. I’ve also invited many friends to the farm, and they all praise it highly.”
Guest Jiang Li-Hua thanked her uncle (volunteer Weng Zhen-Lun) for the invitation: “Coming here today wasn’t just about drinking tea; I also learned so much more about Tzu Chi’s charitable missions. I will definitely join Tzu Chi activities when I have the chance in the future.”
Building Dreams for Love, Gathering Great Love
Mac Miao, CEO of Tzu Chi Canada, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to gather with the Honorary Board Members: “Tzu Chi’s development relies on the help of many people, especially the support of our Honorary Board Members. Now is the harvest season, and besides sharing the many vegetables and fruits from our farm, we also want to report to our esteemed members on the progress and future outlook of Tzu Chi Canada’s missions of love.”
By gathering drops of great love, Tzu Chi has continued to grow for nearly sixty years. Facing the challenges and needs of a new era, we must transform the “Four Immeasurables”—Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity—into more concrete actions to allow Tzu Chi’s missions to more smoothly unleash their charitable power.
Deputy CEO Lin Fen-Hong explained the use and results of the donations: “Today is a wonderful affinity that brings us together. We are grateful to have you light the way with us, becoming the greatest support for those in suffering. Every donation you make is a seed of hope—in disaster relief, it is the comfort of a warm meal; in medicine and education, it is the continuation of life; and in our environmental mission, it is a force that protects the Earth.” Through her detailed explanation, she conveyed the goodness of Tzu Chi, helping more people understand what Tzu Chi does.
Bless the world with kind thoughts and bring hope through action. Everyone has the ability to care for and help others. When we gather with love, we can “walk the path of goodness together” as volunteers to promote Tzu Chi’s benevolent work for a better future. Looking back at the past and forward to the future, the power of love will continue on.
